I Corinthians 6: Questions That Are Really Answers

By my count (NRSV), Paul asks 13 rhetorical questions of the Corinthian Church in chapter 6.  He is not honestly looking for answers to his questions - rather, he is making a point by asking them!

What do Paul's questions teach us?

• Believers shouldn't sue one another.  Rather than take a brother or sister to court, work it out in front of another Christian guiding you.  Or, better yet, be content with simply suffering a wrong.

• People who do evil deeds are not citizens of the kingdom. Disqualifying acts include sexual immorality, idolatry, stealing, greediness, and drunk partying.  This would be very bad news except that...

• Jesus Christ works transformation (real change) in the lives of believers.  Even if you were guilty in the past of some of those evil deeds, Christ can work a change in your heart that makes you into a different person - and able to be saved.

• What we do with our bodies is important.  Some people think that any physical sins we commit are not that important because - hey - it's just the flesh not the spirit.  But Paul stresses that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit.  It's not okay, therefore, to commit fornication with our bodies.  There is a real spiritual dimension to what we do in the flesh.